Story by Kaguta Joel
Two women have given birth under dire conditions at the Nyambuko Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ibanda-Kyanya Town Council, Kasese District, triggering alarm among health professionals over the potential health risks facing the newborns.
Pelucy Biira, 45, and Roset Biira, 37, both delivered baby boys inside makeshift shelters roofed with dry banana leaves, with no access to clean water, sanitation, or medical support.
The camp was established in early April to host residents displaced by recent natural disasters in the region.
Speaking to Crooze FM, the camp’s secretary, Mr. Osborn Kisembo, revealed that out of the 407 individuals currently staying in the camp, 21 are expectant mothers.
“The conditions here are extremely worrying. There is no access to proper healthcare, and the safety of both mothers and babies is at serious risk,” Kisembo said.
Roset Biira, who delivered her baby on May 7 with the help of a traditional birth attendant, confirmed that her newborn has not yet received any of the essential vaccines typically administered at birth.
Sylivia Muhindo, a midwife at Muhokya Health Centre III, expressed concern over the lack of immunizations, warning that babies in such vulnerable conditions are at risk of contracting life-threatening diseases, including polio and respiratory infections.
Camp residents, including the new mothers, are now appealing to the government and humanitarian agencies for immediate assistance—calling for food, shelter, medical supplies, and access to maternal and child health services.